When the previews came out for The Time Traveler's Wife, I knew I wanted to see the movie. Then, I heard it was based on a novel.
You all are familiar with my book addiction by now so I probably shouldn't have to tell you that I had to buy the book and read it before the movie came out. Well, okay, you might not have known the last part about me - if I know it was a book first, I want to read the book first (and am kind of annoyed that someone pointed out that Julie & Julia is based on a book now!!! But I digress.) - before I see the movie. But yeah, I bought the book Saturday night and finished it Monday after work.
Loved it.
Which is kind of my point. I don't see how the movie can capture everything it needs to to tell the story that the book tells. I still want to see the movie but I don't want to be disappointed.
There are a couple of exceptions where I liked the movie better than the book (The Constant Gardener, Under the Tuscan Sun and Message in a Bottle come to mind) but in those instances, I saw the movie first (in the cases of The Constant Gardener and Under the Tuscan Sun I would have never gone to see the movies if it depended on my opinion of the book!). In the case of Confessions of a Shopaholic, the previews didn't look anything like what I'd imagined when I'd read the book, so I wouldn't go see the movie. I didn't think I would like it. I still don't.
Anyway, my question to you is, do you like books that are made into movies? Will you go see a movie without reading the book first? Or do you wait until after you see the movie? Which do you typically prefer (if you do read and see the movie)? And why do you think that is?
Inquiring minds want to know.
Oh, and for the record, I still plan to go see The Time Traveler's Wife this weekend. Me and my best friend will be sitting in the 11:30 a.m. showing Saturday morning. I'll let you know what I think. :-)
3 comments:
It depends on how much I liked the book and how willing I am to look at the book and the movie as two different adaptations of a similar story. :) I've loved every Harry Potter movie I've seen (haven't seen the last two that were out yet), but I think it's less because they stuck straight to the story and more that I'm not a big paranormal-ish reader, so it was nice to have a setting in mind the next time I read the books.
I HATED The Secret Garden as a movie. It was my first experience with the whole book-to-movie thing, and I loved the book so much I'd read it a million times and I couldn't get over it every time the movie differed even the tiniest bit from the book. I think I was 12. lol
I finally saw the movie Fireproof. Enjoyed it and was told a couple of days later that the book was SO much better and that I needed to read it. (I'm "in line" now to read it after so and so...) Anyway, I see movies first and unfortunately usually never get around to reading the book. I'm a bit envious of you Lucy and your reading!! (grin) Have a great weekend and enjoy your movie this morning!
I typically like to read the book first, and depending on my reaction to the book, I decide whether or not to see the movie.
But it's so hard for movie makers to really capture the essense of a book.
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